Feeding



3 SheetsSheet 1.

(No Model.)

W. R. JONES. I FEEDING APPLIANCE FOR ROLLING MILLS.

No. 340,917. PatemtedApr. 27, 1886.

33 Me g k a EJ111125 5 E 5- 7 w: [1% MG 01' N. PETERS Pholo-Lilhographen Washinglcn. D.C.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

ented Apr. 2'7, 1886.

W. R. JONES.

FEEDING APPLIANGE FOR ROLLING MILLS.

(No Modl.)

M11111? 5 5 E E a W dfizz UNrrnn STATES PATENT Orricn.

WILLIAM R. JONES, OF BRADDOOK, PENNSYLVANIA.

FEEDING APPLIANCE FOR ROLLING-MILLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,917, dated April 27, 1886.

Application filed July 20, 1885. Serial No. 172,091. [No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. JoNEs, of Braddock, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Feeding Appliances of Rolling-Mills; and I do hereby de clare the following to be a full, clear, 'and ex act description thereof.

My improvements in the feed appliances of rolling-mills are especially applicable to rail and similar mills, in which a large and heavy bloom is drawn out into a long rail, beam, or

similar article. Such articles are heavy and unwieldy, and various devices have been used for feeding them to the rolls,for shifting them from one pass to another, for transferring them from one set of rolls to another, and for turning the piece.

My improvements relate to such appliances, and my object is to make the operation of such a mill as nearly automatic as possible, whereby time and labor are economized, the output increased, and repairs lessened.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now describe it by reference to the accompanying three sheets of drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a train of rolls for making railroad-rails provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a section on theline A B of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the line C D of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail.

Like figures of reference indicate like parts in each.

The train is made of three different sets of rolls, 1, 2, and 3, each being three high, so as to afford return-passes without necessitating reversing the rolls. The roughingrolls 1 are provided with rising and falling feed-tables 4 5, one at the front and the other at the rear side. These tables are composed of rollers 6, journaled in frames 7, and geared together at 8. One of the geared roller-shafts is provided with a friction-wheel, 9, at one or both ends.

Extending transversely under the table4 is a power-shaft, 10, which is provided with friction gear-wheels 11, arranged directly under the wheels 9, so that when the table 4 falls into position to feed an ingot or bloom to the lower passes of the roughing-rolls 1, the friction-wheels 9 shall come into contact-with the wheels 11 and be turned thereby, and cause the rollers 6 of table 4 to turn in a feeding direction. The rollers 6 of table 5 are driven in like manner, except that being designed for such use with the upper pass they are driven when the table is raised and not when it is depressed. In this case the drivingwheels 12 are mounted on a shaft, 13, above the table 5. Then, when the table is raised into position tofeed to the upper pass, its friction-wheels 9 comein contact with and are driven by the friction-wheels 12. The shaft 13 is driven from the power-shaft 14 by means of the vertical shaft and pinions 15.

The tables 4 and 5 may be raised and lowered by any suitable means, many of which are well known. I show in the drawings the applicationof a hydraulic cylinder for the purpose. (See Fig. 2.) Here the cylinder is shown at 16, and the tables 4 and 5 are supported by pitmen 17, which are connected to by a rod, 20, connected with the ram or piston 21. The tables are guided in their vertical movements by the sleeves 22, moving on the vertical guide-rods 23, attached to the housing 24.

Journaled in the housing at the delivery side of the upper and lower passes are driven delivery-rollers 25one at each level. The one at the front side is driven by a belt, 26, extending from a pulley, 27, on the powershaft 10, to a pulley, 28, on the end of the cranks 18. The crank-shafts 1.9 are operated shaft of the front roller, 25, and the one at the rear side is driven by a belt, 29, extending from a pulley, 30, on the shaft 13 to a pulley, 31, on the shaft of the rear roller, 25. The purpose of this construction is to facilitate the discharge of the piece from the rolls.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that the rollers 6 of the table 4 are driven by power when the table is down and acting as a feed-table, and that when it is up and acting as a receiving-table the rollers are turned, if at all, only by the friction of the bloom as it comes from the rolls. The rollers 6 of the table 5, on the other hand, aredriven by power only when such table is up and in position to feed the bloom to the upper passes, and when the table is down in a position to re- 'by, a shaft, 44.

ceive the bloom from the lower passes, as shown in Fig. 2, the rollers are turned by the friction of the bloom alone. The driven rollers insure the proper delivery of the bloom from the rolls to the table, and obviate all danger of its stopping so near the rolls or guides as to interfere with its proper transfer by the tables from one pass to another.

Secured to the floor in front of the rolls 1 and projecting up between the rolls 6 of the table 4 are two rows of inclined guides, 32 and 33, the purpose of which is to shift the bloom from one of the upper passes over to the next lower pass to the right, (or l ft, as the case may be,) and to turn it while being shifted.

By reference to Fig. 3 it will be noticed that the surface of the rollers 6,when the table 4 is in its upper position, is above theupper ends of the guides 32 33. The bloom having gone through pass a and returned through pass I) to the table 4,the latter is caused to fall. As it does so the bloom encounters the inclined upper sides of the guides 32, and is shifted thereby over on thetable, until when thelatter reaches its lower position it lies in front of the pass 0. At the same time the bloom is tipped by the inclines and turns over as itdescends to place. When the table 4 reaches its lower position, the friction-wheels 9 encounter the frictionwheels 11, and are set in motion, starting the rollers 9,which drive the bloom into the pass 0. The operation of the guides 33 is the same, turning the bloom between the passesf and g. I have shown two of the guides 32 and three of 33. The reason for this is that the bloom has been elongated whenit reaches the guides 33, andrequires an additional one to directits outer end.

The rolls 2 are provided with stationary feed tables 34 and 35, consisting of suitable frames in which are journaled driven feedrollers 36, having intermediate platforms, 37. The rollers of the table 34 are driven toward the rolls 2 by shaft 38, connected therewith by bevel gearing, said shaft being driven by a second shaft, 39, through the medium of friction gear-wheels 40. The shaft 39 is driven by the power-shaft 10 through the medium of bevel-gearing 41. The rollers 36 of the table are driven toward the rolls 2 by a shaft, 42, connected therewith by bevel-gearing. It re ceives power from the shaft of one of the rollers 36, (in this case the outer one,) which is connected by gearing 43 with, and is driven The other end of the shaft 44 is mounted in a sliding bearing, 45, so as to be capable of a slight lateral movement, and is providedwith a friction gearwheel, 46, placed between two geared friction-wheels, 47, one of which is mounted on a shaft, 48. The shaft 48 is driven by the power-shaft 14, with which it is connected by gearing 49. The shaft 39 is also mounted on sliding bearings 50, so that the friction-wheels may be thrown into and out of contact by means of a lever connected to therotating rod 51,which in turn is suitably connected with the sliding bearings 50. The purpose'of this construction is to disconnect the feed-rollers 36 of the table 34 whenever it is desired to prevent the bloom thereon from being driven into the pass, as is occasionally the ease. The friction-wheel 46 is thrown in to gear with either of the wheels 47 at pleasure by means of a lever, 52, connected with the sliding bearings by a system of rods and levers, 53, for the purpose of causing the feedrollers 36 of the table 35 to be driven in either direction, as may be desired.

Extending along the inner side of the feedtable 4 is a rock-shaft, 54, which is provided with two or more radial arms or levers, 55,

and hinged at or to the adjacent side of the" frame of the table 34, at 56, area like number ofslideways or bars, 57,which, near their outer ends, rest on the levers 55. The inner ends of the bars 57 terminate between or at the side of the rollers 36 ofthe table 34, and the upper or outer ends, which are beveled to receive the bloom as it comes from the last pass, h, of the roughing rolls 1, terminate between the rollers 6 of the table 4 when the latter is in a raised position. On the floor under the rockshaft 54 is another rock-shaft, 58, which is provided on one side with an arm or lever, 59, which bears against a frictionroller, 60, on the under side of the frame 7 of thetable 4, andprojecting from the other side of the rockshaft 58 is a counterweighted arm, 61, which holds the arm 59 in contact with the frictionroller 60 as the table 4 rises and falls. The arm 59 is pivotally connected with anarm, 62, which projects from the lower side of the rocl shaft 54 by a link, 63.

The operation of this construction is illustrated in Fig. 3, and is as follows, viz: When the table 4 is in a raised position, the beveled ends of the bars 57 lie between the rollers 6 in front of the pass h. as shown by dotted lines, so that the bloom from the latter shall lie on the table directly above them. Then, when the table 4 falls, it depresses the ram 59,which by means of the link 63 and arm 62 turns the rock-shaft 54, causing the lever 55 to raise the slideways 57. The latter raises the bloom 64 up off the table 4, when its gravity will cause it to slide down the ways 57 to the table 34, where it is stopped by the stop 65 in front of the first pass, i, of the rolls 2. The bloom when it leaves the pass h is of T form, and it slides down the ways 57 stem foremost,sothat when its stem encounters the stop 65 it is turned to an upright position, and is therefore in the proper position to be driven by the rollers 36 into the pass i without turning or further manipulation. The rail-bloom after going through the pass 4 runs out on the table 35, and then its rear end is raised by means of a lever-hook or otherwise to the pass 7c,through which itis driven. As its latter end leaves the pass Is it falls to the table 34, but in its descent it encounters an inclined guide, 66,Which shunts it sidewise, so that it falls on the table directly in front of the pass Z. The feed-roll- IIO ers 36, turning in the direction of the rolls, then carry the bloom directly into said pass.

If desired, a similar guideway may be arranged between the passes m and n. The bloom having gone through pass a and run out on the table 35, the rollers 36 of the latter are stopped by throwing the friction-wheel 46 out of contact with the wheels 47. At the rear end of the table 35 is a track, 67, which extends also over the rear feed-table of the finishing-rolls 3. Mounted on this track is a carriage or pusher, 68, which is operated by a chain or rope, 69. The rope 69 is mounted on sheaves 70, placed at the ends of the track, and is actuated by a drum, 71, around which it passes one or more times. The drum is mounted on ashaft journaled in asliding hear ing. 72, and is provided with a friction-wheel, 73, at the other end, which wheel is situate between two friction gear-wheels, 74, and is "capable of being thrown into contact with either, or out of contact with both. The bearing is moved by a lever, 75, with which it is connect-ed by a rod, 76. By throwing the wheel 73 in contact with one of the wheels 74, the carrier 68 is caused to move in one direction, and by throwing 'it in contact wit-h the other the carrier is caused to move in the opposite direction. When the rail-bloom leaves the pass it it is very much elongated, and its end extends past the carrier 68, the latter being in its retracted position,as shown in Fig.1.

The rolls 3 have a feed-table, 75, on the front side, which is similar to the table 34 as to construction and power devices, but owing to the greater length of the rail-bloom it is provided at the outer end with one or more friction-rollers, 76, and intermediate platforms. The rear feeding-table, 77, is merely the elongation of the transfer table or bed, which carries the rail to the saws. In this table 78Iare the friction-rollers, and 79 are the adjacent driven rollers of the transfcr-table leading to the saws. The latter are driven by a shaft, 80, which is connected to the axles of the rollers by bevel gearing,-and the shaft is driven by a belt, 81, leading from a suitable power-shaft.

Journaled in the table 77 are two shafts, 82, which are driven by belts 83 and 81 from the power shaft 14, and on their inner ends directly in front of the first pass of the finishingrolls 3, are tapered feed-rollers 85, having collars on their inner ends, to prevent the rail from being pushed clear over them.

Extending from a point near the outer end of the table 35 to the adjacent side of the table 77 is aslideway or bar, 86, which aids in supporting the rail as it is transferred from the table 35 to the feed-rollers 85.

In transferring the rail-bloom from the table 35 to the feed rollers 85, the end next to the rolls is supported and guided by the workman by means of a suspended hook-lever--such as is commonly used for moving blooms in rolling-mills-and the bloom is pushed over by the carrier 68, which is set in motion,as described,

for that purpose, until it is placed on the rollers 85 against the collars of the same. The rollers then drive the bloom into the first pass of the rolls 3. The driven rollers of the table 75 return it to the rolls, which finally deliver it on the table 77, whence it is carried to the saws by the rollers 79.

The rolls 3 may be provided with an inclined guide, similar to the guide 66 on the rolls 2, and for the same purpose, if desired. The shafts 10 and 14 are driven by countershafts 87,extending from the roll-shaft 88. If desired, a second carrier, 68, may be arranged between the tables 35 and 77, and the railbloom be transferred by the carriers without manual labor.

The pitmen l7 and their cranks 1.8 are made of different lengths, so that when the tables 4 and 5 are in receiving positions they shall turn on their pivots and incline from the rolls 1, so as to facilitate the delivery of the bloom.

It is evident that one of the rising and falling tables (4 or 5) may be used with advantage without the other, in which case the bloom may be handled on the opposite side of the rolls in any other desired way; also, that the table may he used for some kinds ofwork with but one driven feed-roller, in which case the other rollers would not be geared thereto, but would turn by the friction of the bloom; also, that the feed-tables may have separate elevating devices; also, the pivoted incline slide- The free ends of the slideways 57 project over the adjacent side of the table 4, andin the absence of the raising mechanism,of which shaft 54 is the center, the slideways, arranged as shown, would rise and fall with the table 4. They can therefore be used without other means than the said table for raising and lowering them, and, as they constitute a valuable and useful feature when so used, they are claimed in connection with tables alone, as well as in connection with other raising mechanism.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isv l. The combination, in a rolling-mill, of a rising and falling feed-table having geared in contact therewith when the table comes to a feeding position, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. The combination, with a three-high mill, of simultaneously rising and falling feed-tables arranged on opposite sides of the rolls and provided with feed rollers, and fixed mechanism placed below the table on one side and above the table .on the other side, whereby the feed-rollers of the tables shall come automatically into connection with the driving mechanism when they assume position on the feeding side of a pass, and shall be automatically disconnected when they move away from such position, substantially as and for the purposes described;

4. The combination, in a three'high mill, of a rising and falling feed'table having geared feeding-rollers and a friction-wheel connected with such rollers,withadriving friction-wheel occupying a fixed position relatively to the tab.e,with which the friction-wheel on the table in another horizontal plane shall come automatically into driving-contact when the table is raised or lowered to a feeding position, substantially as and for the purposes described.

5. The combination, in a rolling mill, of a rising and falling feed-table having geared feed-rollers, with a fixed driving mechanism,

which is in driving connection with the feedrollers when the table is in a feeding position,

i and out. of connection when it is in a receiva rising and .fallingfeed-table, with a second set of rolls having a feed-table, and inclined slideways pivoted at the second feed-table, and having their free ends terminating at the first for the purpose of transferring the piece from the first set of rolls to the second, substantially asand for the purposes described.

7. The combination, in a rolling-mill, of a set of rolls having a rising and falling feedtable, pivoted inclined slideways having their free ends terminating at an upper pass of the rolls, and supporting-arms sustaining the free ends of the slideways and connected with the table, and mechanism for operating said arms, whereby the free ends of the slideways shall fall below the said upper pass at the rise of the table, and shall rise and lift the bloom from the table as the latter falls, substantially as and for the purposes described.

8. The combination, in a rolling-mill, of a set of rolls having a rising and falling feedtable, pivoted inclined slideways having their free ends terminating at an upper pass of the rolls, a rock-shaft provided with oscillating arms which sustain the slideways, and levers connected to said rock'shaft, actuated by the table, whereby the fall of the table shall cause the slideways to rise and lift the bloom from the table, substantially as and for the purposes described.

9. The combination, ina three-high mill, of a rising and falling feed-table having feedrollers, with stationary guides projecting up between the feed-rollers, havinginclined surfaces between the upper and lower passes to shift the bloom laterally and turn it radially as the table descends, and a fixed driving mechanism arranged below the table, which comes into automatic connection with the feedrollers when the table reaches its lower position and the bloom is shifted and turned, so that the bloom may at once be automatically driven by the fced-rollers of the table into the next pass without turning or other manipulation, substantially as and for the purposes de scribed.

10. The combination, ina rollingmill, of two sets of rolls, with inclined slideways pivoted near the lower pass of one set of rolls, and extending to the upper pass of the first set of rolls, and mechanism for supporting the free ends of the slideways and raising them, forthe purpose of receiving and raising the bloom from the first set of rolls and transferring it by gravity to the other rolls, substantially as and for the purposes described.

11. The combination, in a rolling'mill, of two sets of rolls, each provided with feedtables, with a carrier for transferring the bloom laterally from one feed-table to the other, sub stantially as and for the purposes described.

12. The combination, in a rolling-mill, of two sets of rolls, one set having a feed-table and the other set having driven flanged feedrollers arranged in front of its first pass, with transfer-bars extending from the feed-table to the feed-rollers, so that the bloom may be shift ed laterally thereon from the feed-table to the feed-rollers, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of July, A. D. 1885.

\VILLIAM R. JONES.

'VVitnesses:

W. B. CoRWIN, J. K. SMITH. 

